Why Maple Leafs Need to Prioritize Morgan Rielly Trade Amid Rebuild, New NHL Rumors

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the midst of a roster rebuild this offseason, under new general manager John Chayka and one player in particular that needs to be addressed is defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic reported Tuesday that the 32-year-old, who has a No Movement Clause in his contract, "hasn't green-lighted a trade by waiving his NMC at this point in time. Any reports to the contrary are false."

Pierre LeBrun reported for The Athletic, "His agent, J.P. Barry, gave Leafs management a list of teams that would interest Rielly. My understanding is that most of those teams are all in the Western Conference, but there's also a sense that there could be flexibility as talks evolve."

Regardless of where things are currently, the endgame is the same: the Leafs must move on from Rielly.

Harman Dayal of The Athletic named Rielly one of the nine most disappointing players of 2025-26, writing, "Morgan Rielly's deteriorating play — and the four years he has left after this season at a $7.5 million cap hit — is a major concern for a slow, aging blue line that lacks quality puck movers."

That his play deteriorated against lesser competition only makes the fall off that much greater.

Add to that his worst offensive output since the COVID-shortened 20-21 season, with 11 goals, 25 assists, and a +/- of -18, and you have a player that the Maple Leafs cannot continue to pay for what they are getting in return.

Especially when the team's blue line needs an upgrade overall to compete in the East and, more importantly, for their first Stanley Cup since 1967.

With the draft kicking off on June 26, Toronto must do what it can to convince Rielly to waive his NMC so that it can trade him and, potentially, get assets or draft picks in return. He is still an elite skater who can bring veteran leadership to a team that needs a strong locker room guy. He carries value, just not what the Leafs need to take the next step and be that legitimate contender they have tried to be for the better part of the last decade.

Otherwise, the organization will enter another season, paying a player who has not contributed to the level they expected and, quite frankly, has become a liability at a position where they can least afford it.